Nanyang Village was neither close to nor far from the county town, a journey of about forty li.
Along the way, Qin Gang nearly drove the three-wheeled motorcycle to death, with black smoke billowing. Finally, half an hour later, they arrived at the County People's Hospital.
Perhaps it was due to the second day of the Lunar New Year, but the hospital, usually bustling, had very few people. The corridor was empty, with many medical staff having gone home for the holidays to enjoy time with their families.
"Doctor! Doctor!! Is there a doctor? Hurry, save him!!"
Qin Gang shouted at the top of his lungs, finally alerting the doctor on duty inside.
"What are you shouting about? Is this your home!"
An old doctor in a white coat came out, his face displeased, clearly unhappy.
"Dr. Wang, it's me, Jiang Cuihua!"
Jiang Cuihua, however, quickly recognized the doctor and eagerly stepped forward, tightly grasping Dr. Wang's hand.
"Please take a look at my husband. He was just discharged from your treatment before the new year, and today he suddenly has a high fever and is unresponsive!"
"Jiang Cuihua..."
Dr. Wang found the name somewhat familiar. When his gaze fell upon Qin Shuren's face, he finally realized.
"So it's your family, of course I remember. The one who was burned before the new year, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes, it's us!"
Jiang Cuihua nodded excitedly.
Qin Chuan also breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected to encounter the attending physician who treated his father when they suddenly arrived at the hospital. This was an unexpected joy!
"Hurry and bring him to the ward, let me see!"
Knowing it was an acquaintance, Dr. Wang immediately resumed his duties as a doctor.
A few minutes later, in a ward, Qin Shuren's shirt was removed, and he lay there quietly.
At this moment, Qin Chuan finally got a full view of his father's burn-scarred body. It was more than just severe; it was horrifying.
The front of his chest, nearly two-thirds of it, was covered in wounds. The skin was a mix of black and red, and in some severely burned areas, the flesh had caved in, appearing grotesque and terrifying enough to frighten a child.
It was hard to imagine how much pain Qin Shuren suffered daily. Qin Chuan's eyes welled up, forcing himself not to cry.
At least not now. He was a reborn person and the man of the house. He couldn't show weakness at a time like this.
"Two reasons!"
Dr. Wang put down his instrument, his expression grave. "One is a severe cold, and the other is that some of the wound areas have split open and become infected with a virus..."
"In this current situation, treatment must begin immediately. I'll write a prescription, and you can complete the hospitalization procedures quickly!"
"Then... Dr. Wang, is it serious?"
Jiang Cuihua's voice trembled uncontrollably. Qin Chuan and Qin Gang also stared intently at Dr. Wang.
As he wrote the prescription, Dr. Wang sighed. "Before the new year, I didn't recommend your family discharge him, precisely because I feared this situation. Now, what I worried about has indeed happened. It might be quite troublesome!"
While he was speaking, the prescription was ready. Qin Chuan immediately took it and turned to run outside.
No matter how serious the situation, treatment had to begin at once!
Arriving at the payment window, Qin Chuan handed the prescription to the staff inside. The staff quickly operated the computer.
In this era, computers were absolute luxuries, only found in places like hospitals. Ordinary families couldn't afford them.
"A deposit of five hundred yuan!"
Soon, the staff's voice came through.
"Okay!"
Qin Chuan reached into his pocket for the money his elder brother, Qin Yang, had given him before they left. But his movements immediately froze, as the money in his hand was clearly not enough, only about two hundred yuan at most.
As for himself, he didn't have a penny on him; he was a pauper.
"Doctor, we were in a hurry to leave and didn't bring much cash. Could we pay two hundred yuan first?"
Qin Chuan's voice was tinged with supplication. He had no choice; when in Rome, do as the Romans do, especially in a place like a hospital.
"How can that be? Five hundred yuan is the minimum deposit. If it's not enough, hurry home and get the money!"
The staff member replied sternly.
Qin Chuan's face turned extremely grim. Even as a reborn individual, he didn't know what to do in this situation, or where to quickly get three hundred yuan.
Without enough deposit, his father, Qin Shuren, couldn't be admitted. If this was delayed, the consequences were unthinkable.
"Third brother! Third brother!!"
Just as Qin Chuan was agonizing, Qin Gang, rushing from around the corner of the corridor, quickly reached his side.
"Is it that the money isn't enough? Mom told me to bring money!"
Qin Gang opened his palm, revealing something tightly wrapped in a gold velvet cloth. When opened, it showed stacks of RMB.
The largest denomination was fifty yuan, and there were also ten, two, and one yuan notes...
Though it looked like a thick wad, there wasn't much in it.
Qin Chuan thought of the similar money from his eldest brother. This was likely the family's last resort...
After spending all this money, he couldn't even imagine their future.
Qin Chuan felt as if an invisible hand had tightly gripped his heart, making it difficult to breathe.
He had to get money! And fast!
Otherwise, the regrets of his previous life might repeat themselves, and Qin Chuan absolutely refused to let such a thing happen again.
Suppressing the pain in his heart, the brothers pooled together five hundred yuan and paid the deposit to the doctor, finally allowing their father to be admitted to the hospital.
"How much money do we have left?"
In the corridor, Qin Chuan suddenly turned to ask his second brother.
Qin Gang's voice was hoarse, and his emotions were low. Hearing the question, he replied with red-rimmed eyes, "Thirty-six yuan and seventy cents. I've already counted it!"
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Neither brother spoke again, but an invisible pressure simultaneously weighed on both their hearts.
Lack of money!
And a severe lack of it!
No matter what method they used, they had to earn money quickly!
Otherwise, with only these thirty-six yuan, they might not even be able to afford food for the family for a few days, let alone their father lying in the hospital requiring expensive medical fees every day!
The Old Qin family had no relatives or friends in the county town. Daily living expenses were a necessity.
"I'm going out for a bit. If Mom asks, just give her some excuse!"
Qin Chuan said slowly. Without waiting for Qin Gang's reply, he turned and walked out of the hospital.
In the corridor, Qin Gang watched Qin Chuan's departing back, gritting his teeth. He knew his younger brother was going to find money.
This younger brother seemed to have suddenly changed. Not only did he have strange ideas in his head, but he was even more proactive in his filial piety than him.
"Hmph! Dad and Mom aren't just your only son, and I'm your elder brother. If we're going to find money, it shouldn't be you going alone!"
Qin Gang murmured to himself and strode towards the ward.
A few minutes later, a young man also left the hospital...